View Poll Results: Which day(s) are you available for a fun drive this coming weekend?
Saturday, April 29, for a drive to the Wine Country
4
44.44%
Sunday, April 30, for a drive to Monterey/Carmel
6
66.67%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll
SF Bay Area Shark Owners - How about a little fun drive this weekend?
#76
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I plotted an alternate route that avoids 101 altogether, going on PART of route 25, cutting over to pick up Arroyo Seco by taking Johnson Canyon Road. It adds 20 miles, but would be a bit slower.
The original route I link above is slightly different from Nicole's description, getting off 101 10 miles earlier in Soledad instead of Greenfield. The alternate route takes 25 to Johnson Canyon and goes over to Gonzales, 10 miles North of Soledad. Here is a pic that shows the alternate in Green, with the original 101 section in black. This would be almost all backroad and much more twisty stuff in place of 101. Maybe a bit too tiring, but what a route.
The original route I link above is slightly different from Nicole's description, getting off 101 10 miles earlier in Soledad instead of Greenfield. The alternate route takes 25 to Johnson Canyon and goes over to Gonzales, 10 miles North of Soledad. Here is a pic that shows the alternate in Green, with the original 101 section in black. This would be almost all backroad and much more twisty stuff in place of 101. Maybe a bit too tiring, but what a route.
#77
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Hi Bill:
This sounds like an excellent route, but I'm worried it will be too long. I think we should try to keep the drive as close to 3 hours as possible; the one you posted on norcal928 is already estimated at 4 hours (that is 4 hours with regular cars...)
Remember that we should be in Monterey at a reasonabale lunch time, and Bill will have to drive another 7-8 hours to San Diego. Therefore I think the 101 shortcut to Greenfield is a good compromise that will give us enough twisties with a reasonable driving time.
Also, let's make sure we leave no later than 9:00AM on Sunday.
This sounds like an excellent route, but I'm worried it will be too long. I think we should try to keep the drive as close to 3 hours as possible; the one you posted on norcal928 is already estimated at 4 hours (that is 4 hours with regular cars...)
Remember that we should be in Monterey at a reasonabale lunch time, and Bill will have to drive another 7-8 hours to San Diego. Therefore I think the 101 shortcut to Greenfield is a good compromise that will give us enough twisties with a reasonable driving time.
Also, let's make sure we leave no later than 9:00AM on Sunday.
#78
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Frankly I've found many of the restaurants around the wharf to be very touristy and bland, like hotel food with some kitsch around the edges. Hardly worth the 1/3 to 1/2 mile round-trip walk to/from parking, but handy if you happen to already be there -- I haven't tried that particular place though, and would love to find that I've been wrong about that. Have you(or anyone who's listening) eaten there?
#79
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Originally Posted by SharkSkin
Frankly I've found many of the restaurants around the wharf to be very touristy and bland, like hotel food with some kitsch around the edges. Hardly worth the 1/3 to 1/2 mile round-trip walk to/from parking, but handy if you happen to already be there -- I haven't tried that particular place though, and would love to find that I've been wrong about that. Have you(or anyone who's listening) eaten there?
Main reason I picked it was because it had been Bill's wish to go to Monterey on his trip. He loves the area, and if we end in Carmel Valley and go right on Hwy1 South from there, we skip the coastal areas of Monterey and Carmel altogether.
We can do Carmel Valley some other time.
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#81
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OK, I'll be glad to give it a whirl, though now I'm curious about the place Rich mentioned... have to check it out one of these days.
Bill, I never got back to you on the 101-25 route... I thought the route would hit the coast further south, so was looking for a way to streamline. The routes you've posted since look much more manageable, given the time constraints.
Bill, I never got back to you on the 101-25 route... I thought the route would hit the coast further south, so was looking for a way to streamline. The routes you've posted since look much more manageable, given the time constraints.
#82
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OK, we'll stick with the original route. I've added Cafe Fina as the destination. I sent out a note to the norcal928 maillist. Actually twice due to a date error. I hope it gets through the spam filters - it didn't get through mine! You know, maillists suffer from that due to the return address not matching up with the return address. I need to send direct emails I guess.
#83
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Hey, are we not going to take Carmel Valley Road from Gonzales or Greenfield, ad stopping for lunch in the Village up in the valley? Bummer.
After lunch we can always go over Laureles Grade into Monterey to the wharf if anyone prefers that terminus. I will go into Carmel myself. I also like Bill's alternate route from Gonzales. I guarantee you will be tired by the time we arrive at the Carmel Valley Village and will want to stop. But have it your way. I am bringing my lunch with me anyway as always, so I am not too concerned about the meal. And Monterey/Carmel will be packed with people.
Another reason to like the route that avoids Hollister is that it is a speed trap from 101 to Hollister and a slow agonizing go that seems to take forever behind trucks. Pass them and you get nailed by ravenous bears.
After lunch we can always go over Laureles Grade into Monterey to the wharf if anyone prefers that terminus. I will go into Carmel myself. I also like Bill's alternate route from Gonzales. I guarantee you will be tired by the time we arrive at the Carmel Valley Village and will want to stop. But have it your way. I am bringing my lunch with me anyway as always, so I am not too concerned about the meal. And Monterey/Carmel will be packed with people.
Another reason to like the route that avoids Hollister is that it is a speed trap from 101 to Hollister and a slow agonizing go that seems to take forever behind trucks. Pass them and you get nailed by ravenous bears.
#84
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Dave:
Johnson Canyon Road is not a main artery and might not be passable, for all I know, but it does create a significantly shorter route with 25 in the mix.
Johnson Canyon Road is not a main artery and might not be passable, for all I know, but it does create a significantly shorter route with 25 in the mix.
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Originally Posted by Ron_H
Hey, are we not going to take Carmel Valley Road from Gonzales or Greenfield, ad stopping for lunch in the Village up in the valley? Bummer.
After lunch we can always go over Laureles Grade into Monterey to the wharf if anyone prefers that terminus. I will go into Carmel myself. I also like Bill's alternate route from Gonzales.
After lunch we can always go over Laureles Grade into Monterey to the wharf if anyone prefers that terminus. I will go into Carmel myself. I also like Bill's alternate route from Gonzales.
#86
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Johnson Cyn is a dirt road, and I would not take my 928 there.. The 101 to Carmel Valley is twisty, and will take about 45 mins - 1 hr. Cafe fina is for tourists. The food is not good compared to Cafe Rustica's. Your choice.. Let me put it this way... It's one of my favourite restaurants in the US. And I eat out every day, and have been doing that for a long long time....
Anyway, Have fun. If things change, I'll ring Bill on his cell... Hope you guys have a good time..
Anyway, Have fun. If things change, I'll ring Bill on his cell... Hope you guys have a good time..
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Richard:
Thanks for the info on Johnson Canyon Rd. That's what I was wondering ,as I indicated above. So much for that route. Good input on that and the restaurant. We could eat in Carmel Valley and finish up at a watering hole in Monterery. It's Nicole call.
Thanks for the info on Johnson Canyon Rd. That's what I was wondering ,as I indicated above. So much for that route. Good input on that and the restaurant. We could eat in Carmel Valley and finish up at a watering hole in Monterery. It's Nicole call.
#90
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Cafe Rustica...makes me hungry just thinking about it!